Mayukh Saha

Mayukh Saha

October 10, 2024

In Pictures: What People Around The World Eat in a Week

Food is a universal necessity, yet the way it is consumed varies dramatically across the globe. Photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith D’Aluisio embarked on a journey to capture this diversity, documenting what families from 24 countries eat on an average week. Their project entitled Hungry Planet highlights not only the variety of diets but also the common threads that bind us all as humans. What we eat, how much we spend, and what we prefer reflects not just personal choices but cultural influences and the environments we live in. Their works were showcased in their 2005 book, “Hungry Planet: What the World Eats.”

Here, we take a look at 24 families from around the world, each showcasing their typical weekly diet and sharing a small piece of their culinary culture.

1. Mongolia: The Batsuuri Family of Ulaanbaatar

Mongolian family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Batsuuri family lives in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, and spends approximately $40.02 on food each week. Their diet is heavy on mutton, which is central to Mongolian cuisine, and includes traditional dishes like mutton dumplings. Meat is a staple due to the nomadic traditions in Mongolia, and the harsh climate means that families rely heavily on hearty, protein-rich meals.

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2. France: The Le Moine Family of Montreuil

French family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

In Montreuil, a suburb of Paris, the Le Moine family spends $419.95 weekly on food. French cuisine is well known for its sophistication, and the Le Moine family reflects this with favorite dishes like apricot tarts and pasta carbonara. French meals are often an elegant combination of fresh produce, bread, cheese, and wine, deeply ingrained in the country’s culture.

3. United States: The Revis Family of North Carolina

Revis family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Revis family from North Carolina spends $341.98 on food each week. Their meals feature American classics such as spaghetti, potatoes, and sesame chicken. The U.S. diet, influenced by convenience and a fast-paced lifestyle, often consists of pre-packaged or easy-to-prepare foods, though home-cooked meals still play a large part in many households.

4. Chad: The Aboubakar Family of Breidjing Camp

African family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

For the Aboubakar family living in a refugee camp in Chad, food is a scarce resource. They spend just $1.23 per week on meals. Soup made with fresh sheep meat is one of their favorite dishes when available, but the challenges of limited resources and extreme poverty shape their diet. The contrast between the food habits in Chad and other countries highlights the global disparities in food security.

5. Italy: The Manzo Family of Sicily

manzo family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Manzo family in Sicily spends $260.11 per week on food, with a strong preference for fish and pasta. Sicilian cuisine is rooted in Mediterranean flavors, with dishes like pasta and ragu and fresh seafood being staples. The family also enjoys modern snacks like hot dogs and frozen fish sticks, showing how globalized diets have become.

6. Mexico: The Casales Family of Cuernavaca

Casales  family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

In Mexico, the Casales family spends $189.09 per week on food. Their diet is a blend of traditional Mexican fare, such as chicken and crab, and more modern foods like pizza and pasta. Mexican cuisine is rich in spices and flavors, with corn, beans, and chili forming the foundation of most meals.

7. Norway: The Ottersland Dahl Family of Gjettum

Otterland Dahl family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Ottersland Dahl family from Norway spends $379.41 on food weekly. Their meals feature freshly baked bread with butter, pancakes, and tomato soup with macaroni, all reflecting the simple yet wholesome ingredients often found in Norwegian cuisine. Dairy products like yogurt and cold milk are also staples in their diet.

8. Bhutan: The Namgay Family of Shingkhey Village

Namgay family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Spending only $5.03 per week, the Namgay family of Bhutan relies on simple, homegrown foods. Their favorite dish includes mushrooms, cheese, and pork, all sourced locally. Bhutanese food is often centered around rice and vegetables, with cheese and chili peppers being common ingredients in most meals.

9. Germany: The Sturm Family of Hamburg

Sturm Family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Sturm family from Hamburg spends $325.81 weekly on food, with a diet that includes salads, shrimp, buttered vegetables, and pasta. German cuisine is hearty, with meats, potatoes, and bread making up the bulk of their meals. Sweet rice with cinnamon and sugar is a family favorite, showing the influence of both traditional and modern flavors.

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10. Japan: The Ukita Family of Kodaira City

Ukita Family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

In Japan, the Ukita family spends $317.25 weekly, enjoying a diet that includes sashimi, fruit, cake, and potato chips. Japanese meals are often a mix of fresh seafood, rice, and seasonal vegetables. The family’s love for both traditional foods like sashimi and modern snacks reflects Japan’s culinary balance between the old and new.

11. Australia: The Brown Family of River View

Brown family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Brown family from Australia spends $376.45 per week on food. Their meals include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and meat, along with Marge Brown’s specialty: Quandong (an Australian peach) pie and yogurt. Australian cuisine is diverse, often incorporating both local produce and international influences due to the country’s multicultural population.

12. United States: The Caven Family of California

Caven family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Spending $159.18 per week, the Caven family in California enjoys a variety of foods, including beef stew, clam chowder, and ice cream. Like many American families, their meals are a blend of home-cooked dishes and ready-to-eat foods, reflecting the convenience-driven aspects of American eating habits.

13. Canada: The Melanson Family of Iqaluit, Nunavut Territory

Nunavat family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

In the remote Nunavut Territory, the Melanson family spends $345 on food each week. Their diet includes narwhal, polar bear, and stuffed crust pizza, reflecting the balance between traditional Inuit hunting practices and modern food imports. The cold climate and isolation significantly impact food availability and costs in this region.

14. Greenland: The Madsen Family of Cap Hope

madsen family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Madsen family of Greenland spends $277.12 weekly, with polar bear and narwhal skin among their most treasured foods. Hunting plays a critical role in their diet, as access to fresh produce is limited. Their meals consist largely of seal stew and other hearty, protein-rich dishes that are essential for survival in the Arctic climate.

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15. Kuwait: The Al Haggan Family of Kuwait City

Kuwait family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

In Kuwait City, the Al Haggan family spends $221.45 per week on food, and one of their favorite dishes is chicken biryani with basmati rice. Kuwait’s cuisine is influenced by Persian, Indian, and Arabic flavors, with rice, meat, and spices forming the core of many meals.

16. China: The Dong Family of Beijing

Dong family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Dong family of Beijing spends $155.06 on food per week. Their meals feature fried shredded pork with sweet and sour sauce, a staple in Chinese cuisine that balances sweet and savory flavors. The Chinese diet is diverse, with rice, vegetables, and meat making frequent appearances.

17. India: The Patkar Family of Ujjain

Patkar family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Patkar family from India spends $39.27 weekly on food. Their diet includes poha (rice flakes), a popular breakfast dish. Indian cuisine is known for its complex flavors, spices, and the use of lentils, vegetables, and rice as primary ingredients. Meals are often vegetarian and rich in both nutrients and taste.

18. Turkey: The Celik Family of Istanbul

Celik family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Celik family from Istanbul spends $145.88 weekly on food. Their favorite dishes include puffed pastries, a testament to Turkey’s rich baking traditions. Turkish cuisine is a blend of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Central Asian influences, with an emphasis on fresh bread, vegetables, and meat.

19. Luxembourg: The Kuttan-Kass Family of Erpeldange

Kuttan-Kass family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Kuttan-Kass family spends $465.84 per week on food, with favorite dishes like shrimp pizza and chicken in wine sauce. Luxembourg’s small size belies its rich culinary diversity, influenced by neighboring countries like France and Germany, with an appreciation for both fine dining and casual meals.

20. Egypt: The Ahmed Family of Cairo

ahmed family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

In Cairo, the Ahmed family spends $68.53 on food each week, and one of their most beloved dishes is okra and mutton. Egyptian cuisine has deep roots in both history and tradition, with hearty stews, grains, and vegetables being central to most meals.

21. Great Britain: The Bainton Family of Cllingbourne Ducis

Bainton family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Bainton family from Britain spends $253.15 per week on food, with meals including prawn cocktails, avocado sandwiches, and chocolate fudge cake. British cuisine is known for its comfort foods, with a strong focus on simplicity and freshness in ingredients.

22. Guatemala: The Mendoza Family of Todos Santos

Mendoza family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Mendoza family spends $75.70 weekly on food. Their meals include turkey stew and sheep soup, reflecting the traditional foods of Guatemala. Corn, beans, and squash are dietary staples in the region, with recipes often passed down through generations.

23. Poland: The Sobczynscy Family of Konstancin-Jeziorna

Poland family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

The Sobczynscy family spends $151.27 weekly, enjoying dishes like pig’s knuckles with carrots, celery, and parsnips. Polish cuisine is hearty, featuring meats, potatoes, and cabbage, often accompanied by soups and stews that keep families warm during the long winters.

24. Jordan: The Al Zahabi Family of Amman

Al Zahabi family
Image Credit: Peter Menzel | Hungry Planet: What the World Eats


The Al Zahabi family from Jordan spends $65.98 weekly on food. Their favorite dishes include mansaf, a traditional Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in fermented yogurt and served with rice. Jordanian cuisine is rich with flavors from the Middle East, with an emphasis on grains, meats, and dairy products.

These glimpses into the weekly diets of families across the globe reveal not only the diversity of food but also how cultural, economic, and environmental factors shape our daily meals. Through this intimate look at food, Hungry Planet underscores the shared human experience of nourishment and the profound ways it reflects who we are and where we come from.

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